Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow - Bing Crosby

Scottish Joke, to be told in the dialect

What is the difference between Bing Crosby and Walt Disney?
Answer at the END!

The start of the heavy rain coincided with my getting up at 06:00 this morning, and with a fierce wind also rattling the panes things didn't look well set for a day birding. The B&B had been the same as Dave Tissington and I stayed in during our Spring Tour in April last year, with the breakfast remaining just as good despite the weather I was raring to go!

The minor road along the coast was preferred to transit from Fraserburgh to McDuff, while a stop at the first village, Roseharty gave a chance to survey the weather first hand. Not so good at present, which was the same as the road the diversion sending me back to the arterial to reach the destination.

This miniature Glastonbury Tor caught my eye en-route, not noting where it was, but interesting in as much like yesterday's church there was little habitation around.

Not having been this way before, there was a certain something about McDuff and its tiny Harbour, but first things first, there was a bird to consider. It was a full week ago since it was reported with little reason for it to leave, but the whole thing was a 'needle in a haystack' until bumping into a local birder.

He soon had me onto the Grey Phalarope* but advised that it is often absent or maybe just not re-found. That was a welcome surprise to say the least, but what was to follow knocked my socks off, as a Puffin* flew by. Recorded annually during all winter months from the Buchan Alpha so should have been considered, but this didn't even make the cut on a 'wants list'.

A little time was spent looking around the town, particularly this fine monument to whom I know not.

This 7 Arched Bridge over the River Deveron separates Mcduff from its twin town of Banff. It was then a full 70 miles drive to Inverness, passing on the way

more than one Whiskey Distillery and a view of the

'Jack-Up' Rig Mearsk Resilient being towed up the Moray Firth towards Invergordon.

The Kessock Bridge linking Inverness with the Black Isle, crosses at the point where the Moray Firth meets the Beauly Firth, and is the only bridge of its sort I know that doesn't charge a toll.

A few miles north is the Tore Roundabout where the road separates in 4 directions. I have always been successful with Red Kite* taking the A835 towards Dingwall and simply scanning from the large lay-by just 2 miles further on. The final visit today would also involve quite a long drive, but should the bird in prospect be sighted it would be worth walking.

By comparison Loch Fleet is only tiny, but searching a thousand acres of mud flats would take some doing, so help was again needed.

None was forthcoming and the task was further hampered as the heavy rain (turning to sleet) was forced to earth by a gale force wind, the approach seen in this shot Viewing was only possible from the shelter of the car, but that way a fair area was covered and in the process

Little Grebe,

many Hooded Crows,

the first Pied Wagtail,

hundreds upon hundreds of feeding Rooks

and almost alongside a Slavonian Grebe. The news on the much sort after bird, a long staying Greater Yellowlegs (a medium size and rare Wader from the Americas) remained unseen.

On the way back to the main road, this monument was noticed

but again have no idea who it is dedicated to. It was now time to think of a suitable location to begin tomorrows foray but with the weather now turned to continuous heavy snow, most B&B's closed for the season and the remoteness of the Highlands that may not be easy. The Inchbae Lodge Hotel some miles north of Garve would have been idea except with no Internet letting the readership down was not an option. It was now a choice of 26 miles to Ullapool or even more back to Inverness,

when I came across the Aultguish Inn a little further north on the A835.

So here I am safe and warm and sending out the post, question is just how long will I be here? See you in the Spring!

The Year (January) List now stands at 180

Bing Sings and Walt Dis - Ney!
OK, I'm OFF

White Wings & Long Tails

After an extremely comfortable nights rest and a hearty breakfast in the Udny Hotel, Newburgh, I set off for the

estuary of the River Ythan (literally round the back of the hotel) under a cloudy sky and fairly cold south west wind. The ever present

Eider were there, and while I could make comparisons with my many spring trips here, safe to say there were nowhere as many.

male birds and females were there along with a few

eclipse plumage individuals, while searching around Mallard, Wigeon, Grey Heron, Black-headed Gull, House Sparrow all entered the log but a great surprise came by way of a 'ring-tail' (female) Hen Harrier* hunting the margins. So light and delicate was her flight it was reminiscent of a Nightjar on the wing.

There were 100's of Oystercatcher, but next in the book was a lone

Long-tailed Duck*, another addition to the Year List as denoted by the asterisk.

The first sign of Pink-footed Geese was the 'honking' of this small gaggle as it cut the still dark sky, but that is not all that was aloft!

The sight of this 'crew change helicopter' heading for an off-shore Oil Rig had me worried that it may try and get me back out there, so I hid under a bush. Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Blue & Great Tit, Herring, Great Black-backed & Common Gull, Cormorant, Feral Pigeon, Starling, Jackdaw, Wood Pigeon, Shelduck, Redshank plus a Rock Pipit soon followed suit along with a few Grey Seals. Unfortunately there was no sign, so far, of the main target a King Eider but it was now time to go off in search of a couple of long lost friends.

All my wildlife records from the North Sea were sent here to Andrew Thorpe (North Sea Bird Club Recorder) and (Archive Compiler) Alma Fraser.

There was no way I could pay a visit to Newburgh and not drop in on them, but unfortunately Andy was away on business. Nevertheless, Alma an I spent some time catching up before I returned to the search.

Back on the beach, good numbers of Dunlin, Ringed Plover and

Sanderling were arriving to take advantage of the falling tide

while close to low water I took one more scan for the 'King', took a last look at the fantastic sand dunes on the other side before taking my leave. There might be time for a re-visit at the end of the trip.

On the way north, not for the first time I marvelled at this huge church that stands almost alone with only 5 other buildings close by,

and called into the remote Meikle Loch where in the past I have seen

American Wigeon and Snow Goose, but today it was given over totally to a variety of Gulls.

Peterhead Lighthouse.

Mr Read from Peterhead died and his widow, to save a few pence, put this short obituary in the paper.

Peter Read fa'Peterheed is deed!
The lady at the newspaper pointed out that for the same price she could have 3 more words.
So she re-jigged the entry to
Peter Read fa'Peterheed is deed! Volvo For Sale.

Another stop on the way was to look at this flock of feeding Curlew in a road side field, and how nice to be able to stop as there is no other traffic?

was today, as it always has been, another port of call if for nothing else

the Tree Sparrows*

The view from the Visitor's Centre, from where both

Bewick's Swan and Whooper Swan* could be seen, it is hoped the latter may be seen at closer quarters on one of the Lochs further north.

Highland Cattle in the sea-side fields, and

hundreds of Golden Plover and Lapwing.

Just around the corner is the Rattery Head Lighthouse and accompanying Sand Dunes. This is a cold place on the best of days, and this was no exception. The beach can be good for Snow Bunting and occasionally Shore Lark and even the King Eider ventures this far on occasion. None of these today unfortunately, but in many ways better were 5 Twite* (always here to my knowledge) and a first ever chance to compare their 'calls' with that of close relative the Linnet of which there were about 30 but not mixing with the others.

No Corn Bunting or Yellowhammer, which are also common here, but a great chance to watch Pink-footed Geese landing at close quarters and a few Meadow Pipit added to the Day List.

The plan had been to make it as far as McDuff some miles to the west, but days are shorter up here with sensible daylight not occurring until 09:00 and darkness showing its hand before 4pm. There was likely to be a long search ahead of me arriving at the Fraserburgh Lighthouse, built on a small headland at the edge of the town, and that was for reported 'White-winged Gulls'.

I had driven around the port a few times before spotting this Iceland Gull* perched on the roof of one of several Fish Processing Factories,

and with so many feeding spots to choose from all of these birds are very flighty. The roof shot was taken as I left the car with the fight shot moments later, that was the last I saw of this Gull.

Atlantic Grey Seals thrive here in the Inner Harbour, but it seems, given the laceration on this ones back he has not been able to avoid a skirmish!

While that one looked big, this one was bigger.

Kings Cross, a fine looking 'palagic trawler'.

After what seemed like 50 times around the harbour, chatting to a couple of trawler Skippers and even taking the ropes of one boat, I was now close to calling it a day. Once more and it would be time to find a B&B. Luckily that was enough as there it was sat on the rocks.

A Glaucous Gull quite unconcerned about my presence,

putting on all kinds of posses and

contortions before it too decided

it had had enough, and flew away. Thanks for these 2 'White Beauties' have to go to Sheila and John for reports and directions.

Finally, with all the chattering going on close to the Lighthouse, a quick investigation found this

fairly large roost (or pre-roost) of Starlings. While I won't attempt to keep count of all the species seen on the trip it would be good at least to note them, so in addition to those already mentioned Mute Swan, Goldfinch, Bar-tailed Godwit, Collared Dove, Blckbird, Turnstone, Knot, Rook, Little Grebe, Common Buzzard, Goldeneye, Pheasant, Kestrel, Barnacle Goose, Common Scoter and Shag were also seen along the way.

The Year (January) List now stands at 177

The Northern Lights of Old Aberdeen

Mean Home, Sweet Home to Me!

Unfortunately, we remain one day behind with the posts but this having been a transit day it has given a little space at the start of the new adventure. A full programme for the next 7 days is planned, which may well involve 1,000 miles of driving, visits to at least 3 Scottish counties plus a most ambitious target of some 'two dozen' additions to the Year List.

After a hearty breakfast at the William Henry pub in Weymouth, it was the 035 National Express service that got me to Heathrow Airport Terminal 5 in plenty of time. Déjà vu was heavy in the air as in the past I spent a full 20 years plying this same route every month, but the local knowledge gathered during those years would pay dividends on landing.

This plus the best thing that ever happened to air travel, on-line check-in, allowed me a front row window seat where I would be able to survey the scene on our arrival at Dyce. There was also a third element contributing to the good fortune at that was a strong tail wind and a Captain with a 'lead boot'.

Hooded Crow is a resident at Aberdeen Dyce Aiport, with a pair awaiting the BA1312,

which brings up a 'milestone' in the attempt to reach the massive 200 species for the month.

There was something of a wait for the hire car, by which time darkness had fallen not helping with the next transit from airport to the (booked) Udny Arms Hotel at Newburgh, some 10 miles north of Aberdeen. Those following progress via a road atlas or Google Maps will find the village just north of Balmedie, nestling on the banks of the River Ythan, where I will be at first light in the morning. We'll talk again tomorrow - with good news I hope!

The Year (January) List now stands at 170

PS

A thousand apologies are extended for the major Editorial Slip of yesterday. The tiny waterbird depicted on the 7th photograph from top is not of course a Little Egret but a Golden Eagle, the appropriate amendment having been put in place. Well done to those who spotted the 'deliberate mistake'.

Now, where was I?